Chapter 68
“No. I do not think it makes you a whore.” Brunella turned and uncaring of the liquid staining Alcee’s fingers took them in hers and Kissed the tips. “You took control of your life, your destiny, and your future. If ever there was someone I felt demonstrated everything I wish I could hav been at twenty–one it is you, Alcee. What an amazing example you are for your son and your future children. They are blessed with a mother who will not bow down to the patriarchy and doesn’t take the easy way. You’re smart and resourceful and you did what was necessary, I am proud of you, Alcee. Unlike your foolish family who wouldn’t recognize brilliance if it jumped up and gave them a lap dance, this family knows we hit the jackpot.”
Tears were streaming down Alcee’s face as Brunella held her fingers to her chest and Lorita hugged her tight from behind.
The sound of Torq coming back was echoed with Antero’s stomping as he raced in and then screamed, moving to get in between Brunella and Alcee.
“Mom, mom, are you cut? Did you get cut? Is that blood? Don’t cry Mom. Dad she’s hurt.”
Alcee giggled, “I’m not cut.”
Torq reached out and grabbed her fingers and licked them, “cherry juice.”
“Then why are you crying?” Antero was wide–eyed.
“Girls cry for all kinds of reasons, Antero,” Cicciu commented as he hung up the leash for the dog on a hook. “My guess, is your Nonna, got all emotional and gushy and said something nice.”
“How do you know?” Antero asked wide–eyed.
“She does it to me all the time,” Cicciu deadpanned. “One minute I’ll be minding my own business, and the next minute Brunella is making me cry with her sweetness. You get the nicest Nonna in the universe.”
One nivers
“She makes you cry?” Antero threw his head back and gave a laugh.
“She makes me cry. She smacks us with her wooden spoon, and it hurts,” Torq laughed as he kissed his mother’s cheek. “What did you do to my bride to make her look all red cheeked and teary eyed?”
“I simply told her she is my family, and I am proud of her. Nothing more.”
“You’re proud of my mom?” Antero asked curiously. “Why?”
“Because she is strong and smart,” Brunella shrugged and went back to stirring a pot on the stove, “she fought hard to bring you into this world, Antero and with all the people against her, like her own father, she still persevered.”
“Don Mariani is a stupid head. Antero grumbled. “Once I heard my mom crying with Susana and Amal because he was being a meanie. Someday when I’m older I’m going to shoot him.”
Lorita ruffled his hair, “you do that Antero, but you may need to get in line. I think your father wants to do it and he may not want to wait until you are older.”
Antero looked at Torq, “if you shoot him, I won’t be mad at you for doing it before I can. Can you do it like in the movies and make it so after you shoot him he falls off a tall building and splats on the ground?”
“And this is why Amal is not allowed to babysit you alone anymore,” Alcee wiped her hands off on a dishtowel and shook her head at her son. “Seriously, no more R rated movies.”
“I don’t watch the kissing.”
“Yeah but you watch the violence.” She looked at Brunella, “what are we doing with these?”
1/3
Chapter 68
“They need to be chopped up fine so I can add them to the whipped filling for the meringue shells.”
“What is this called?” Antero asked.
“Who knows?” Brunella shrugged. “I own too many hens who lay too many eggs. I grow cherry trees which overproduce some years. This recipe I made up when we were getting tired of cherry jam and pie and preserves. It’s exceptionally light and fresh and your father can eat several in a sitting which means it uses them up.” She paused and looked at Torq, “I like saying that.”
“Saying what.”
“You and father in the same sentence.”
Torq smiled and looked at Antero, “I really like hearing it. Nothing makes me happier in the world than Antero being my son, well, aside from Alcee being my woman.”
“I have a question,” Lorita hopped onto a two would be here by now.”
ol next
Cicciu who was
scrolling on his phone. “Where are Tito and Bastiano? I thought those
for the evening since I didn’t want her here for a second night in a row. She’s so damn
“They were taking Genevra to a secure location annoying,” Torq grunted.
“She really is,” Lorita agreed. “Where are you sending her? A prison?”
“No. Kylen Burgess‘ place. He’ll keep her safe for the evening.
Alcee’s mouth fell open. “You matchmaker!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Torq gave a shrug. “We are team bringing too many other people into the house.”
entertaining company with my family here and I didn’t want my security
“You purposefully sent her to Kylen,” Alcee shook her head at Torq. “You are a big softie romantic.”
“I think you have me confused with someone else.” Torq made a face.
The front door opened to save Torq further questioning from Alcee.
A
“Do I smell the cooking of the best cook in all of Sicily?” Tito called out as he arrived. “I hope you made extra Brunella. I brought Bastiano with me and one of the guys from the office. His name is Tank.”
“God dammit,” Alcee grumbled and looked at Lorita, “do yourself a favor and do not look at the man while he eats. Tank can fit an entire donut into his mouth at once. I don’t think he even chews. I never saw anyone else like it until Torq.”
Lorita looked at the men coming in and ducked away from Bastiano pulling her hair and Tito pinching her cheeks and then her face reddened as she looked at Tank.
“Um Alcee,” she whispered quietly.
“Yes?”
“How do you look away from that?”
Alcee groaned and looked around the room wondering whether or not there was some weird chemical in the air for all of her friends to be hooking up ever since Torq arrived in town. She pinched him.
“What?”
“Are you half cupid?”
Chapter 68
“Sweetheart, I wouldn’t be shooting love arrows at these assholes. If I could get away with shooting them it would be real bullets.” He laughed at his joke as Alcee rejoined Brunella at the stove with a shake of her head.
Chapter Comments
36
